Wilfork has high praise for Mangold http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-...3/wilfork-on-manglod-probably-the-best-center FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Few offensive linemen can stand toe-to-toe with Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork, but Jets center Nick Mangold is one of them. Mangold, three-times an All-Pro, is, in the estimation of Wilfork, the best center in all of football. "He's probably the best. He's probably the best center, I believe," Wilfork said on Thursday. "I've been saying this ever since the guy's been a rookie. He's been pretty steady for them. And it hasn't changed." Beyond his role as a road-grader and pass protector for quarterback Mark Sanchez, Mangold is also heavily involved with many other facets of the offense, including protection calls. "Everything it seems like goes through him: the run game, he calls the plays on the line slides, he's the guy in charge," Wilfork noted of Mangold. "That's how it should be, because that's their bread and butter. When they need a play, if they're running the ball, it always seems to end up behind 74 [Mangold's number]. He's a big-time player for them, I give him all the respect in the world facing him numerous times." Wilfork says that Mangold is the kind of player anyone would want on their team. "He's one the players that you wish you could have a guy like that, 11 guys like that on the field with you at all times because he just means so much to that team," he said. Mangold is currently battling an ankle injury that kept him out of practice of Wednesday. Though Wilfork says he wouldn't mind it if Mangold sits out on Sunday when the two teams square off, he's fully expecting the All-Pro lineman to be on the field. "Trust me, I don't mind," Wilfork continued. "I think everybody will be pretty healthy for this game. You don't want to miss these types of games. If I was on the same side or on the opposite side of this man, I would want to play. Division game, for the lead in the division, there's a lot riding on this game on both sides. If you're healthy enough to play, you have to expect everyone. "That's one of the guys, I'm sure he'll be ready to go, no matter what is being said or what his injury may be," he said. "Trust me, I'm pretty sure he'll be there."
is it just me or has there been nothing but nauseating respect between jets and pats heading into this game?
It's not just you. Some of my Patriots' friends aren't talking as much shit as usual. Maybe that Seattle game humbled them.
I'm living in Mass now for college and let me let u in on a secret. nothing scares pats and pats fans more than the jets. we remind them of everything they use to be
It feels toned down because both teams are 3-3. It isn't like we are both 9-2. It's still early in the season but not too early where both teams ahve unrealistic expectations.
They need to let Cro speak to the press. He always manages to amuse me. He could tell us about how he'd be the #1 WR on the Patriots.
Mangold is a great player & Jets are very lucky to have him. Unfortunately, majority of fans (for all teams) can't look past the QB/WR/RB/Pass Rusher and think everyone else on the field is easily replaceable parts. I think both teams have been served a huge helping of humble pie already at this point of the season. Pats fans should be worried about their secondary (but that team is still good & should have 10+ wins). Kinda surprising how bad Patriots looked when trying to close out Seattle. Jets were on the receiving end for some really bad losses and weren't even competitive in all their games. If both teams start to rack up the wins, they'll get more confident & the smack talk will begin again.
This line of thinking leads me to believe that you are actually in high school or majoring in pottery and what it's made of. :breakdance:
THIS. Nothing scares Pats fans more than going back to the days of being an also ran, of having decades go by without a SB or even a SB appearance of heartbreak after heartbreak. This post could not be more spot on
Pats fans fear the Jets because Ryan is one of the few coaches who's repeatedly outcoached Belichick. Granted, Belichick has also kicked Rex and the Jets' asses at times, but everyone knows that either team has a shot to win any Pats/Jets game, regardless of the talent gap.
OK that could be although I dont agree with the regardless of the talent gap part or the repeatedly outcoached (Id put that at a push) but how about the "reminds them of EVERYTHING they used to be" part
patriots fans dont remember mediocrity. 50 percent of them werent fans before the tuck game. 70 percent werent before drew bledsoe and bill parcells. so those other 30 percent, yeah im sure they are scared to death when they think about empty bleacher seats every week. but thats a small percentage of their fanbase. which we all know will begin to fade away into the background again in the near future.
